The Gauteng government ignored expert advice four years ago warning that the Gauteng Freeway Improvement Scheme should not be implemented without public transport first being improved.
A review report handed to the now defunct Gauteng Transport Management Authority (GTMA) warned of the implications of the controversial open tolling scheme if public transport was not improved.
In 2007, the transport body commissioned a review report from a consortium of a local law firm and an international traffic and transport management company on the proposed open tolling system.
GTMA was an agency of the Gauteng government tasked with overseeing the alignment of transport programmes and resources in the province.
The report found that the controversial open tolling system was not considered in relation to overall transport context. The consortium had made use of transport and traffic management experts from Germany and the UK with the objective of coming up with solutions to deal with traffic congestion in Gauteng.
The report by Mncedisi Ndlovu & Sedumedi attorneys, Dornier Consulting and Blackmagic raised concerns that:
*No mention was made of public transport in the SA National Road Agency Limited (Sanral) proposals.
* Substantial highway improvements proposed with the introduction of tolling would result in little or no change in the traffic using freeways.
* The enforcement proposals were unlikely to achieve the suggested payment rates.
* There was concern about the impact of proposed upgraded and new tolled freeways upon the largely urban surrounding road network.
The Saturday Star understands that the report was presented to then MEC for Public Transport, Roads and Works in Gauteng, Ignatius Jacobs.
He could not be reached for comment this week.
It is understood foreign consultants who worked on the review report and studied Sanral’s proposals had likened the scheme to “an obese person loosening his belt to eat more”.
This week, Transport Minister Sbu Ndebele ordered Sanral to halt all work on toll roads across the country but said those constructed on the Gauteng roads would go ahead. Ndebele asked for thorough consultation on future toll projects. He said while the first phase of the Gauteng Freeway Improvement Plan had delivered good road infrastructure, it was an expensive exercise that had drawn sharp criticism.
According to the MNS report, a Sanral feasibility study had made provision for R1.5 billion of the scheme’s budget for public transport improvements, but no further details were revealed.
“As the model is traffic based, it is unlikely that public transport and modal split changes have been considered,” said the report. “A particular concern is the potential use of free flow tolling which is completely untried in South Africa and relies upon very effective enforcement which doesn’t exist currently.”
The report said the freeway improvements should be considered in relation to the overall transport context, including rail based transport and buses.
Sanral CEO Nazir Alli on Friday pleaded ignorance about the MNS consortium report.
“I am not aware of any report like that. Sanral did not commission it. I don’t know who GMTA is and I have never seen their report,” he said.
Former Gauteng head of transport Sibusiso Buthelezi said he was aware of the report and Sanral had reneged on agreements made with his department and municipalities.
Gauteng Transport spokeswoman Octavia Mamabolo did not return several messages left for her requesting comment at the time of going to print. - Saturday Star